The latest Public Health Scotland figures on waiting times for musculoskeletal (MSK) services should be a cause for concern.
Between August 2025 and March 2026, only 52.4 per cent of patients were seen within the Scottish Government’s four-week waiting time target. Meanwhile, the number of people waiting for care increased to 75,128 by the end of March 2026.
Behind these figures are people living with arthritis and other MSK conditions who are experiencing pain, reduced mobility and uncertainty while waiting for support. MSK conditions affect around 1.7 million people in Scotland and are the leading cause of pain and disability. Timely access to services such as physiotherapy is often critical to helping people manage their condition and maintain their quality of life.
Arthritis UK is calling for a national MSK Action Plan to improve access to diagnosis, treatment and support. We are also urging the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Care and Sport Committee to undertake a dedicated inquiry into musculoskeletal health, an area that has never been the subject of a parliamentary inquiry despite its significant impact on individuals and the health service.
These latest figures highlight the need for urgent action to improve outcomes for people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions across Scotland. People living with this cannot afford to wait any longer.
Alan McGinley
Policy and Engagement Manager (Scotland) Arthritis UK
Edward House 199 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow, G2 3EX
New funding has been made available to support people impacted by gambling-related mental health problems in Scotland.
From today, organisations will be able to bid for a share of £375,000 to support projects and research linked to gambling harms and mental health, including suicide prevention.
The funding forms part of the £7.9 million allocated to Scotland through the UK-wide statutory Gambling Levy – supporting Scotland’s Population Health Framework commitments on prevention, early intervention and treatment services delivered across the NHS, local authorities and the third sector.
It is the second year the fund, which is administered by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), has opened for applications, with a total of 16 projects supported in 2025-26.
Minister for Mental Health Maree Todd said: “Gambling affects too many people in Scotland – and while it is often normalised, it is linked to many hidden harms. Earlier this year we announced £7.9 million to tackle gambling harm across Scotland, and this fund is a key part of that commitment.
“Last year, our funding supported exploratory projects which found that gambling harms are strongly linked to, but often hidden by other issues including substance use, housing insecurity and debt.
“This funding will help many other organisations working with some of those most affected, and I urge all eligible groups to apply.”
The ALLIANCE Chief Officer, Sara Redmond, said: “For many people gambling has become part of their everyday life – but research shows it can evolve into a slow often invisible decline that places individuals at heightened risk of harm and impacts on their mental health and wellbeing.
In serious cases it can lead to severe mental distress and even suicide.
“We need to understand more about the support that is needed within our communities – and that’s why the ALLIANCE welcomes this funding from the Scottish Government to do just that. Too often the most marginalised people and communities, those that face the biggest barriers already to better health, are the ones most at risk from gambling.
“The ALLIANCE’s work understanding communities in Scotland through our membership, and projects, gives us a good grounding to manage this fund. Communities provide solutions and on the local projects often have the answers. Solving the significant problems caused by gambling in Scotland has become a non-negotiable.”
Figures show people with red flag symptoms put off going to the GP and face barriers in seeking help
Cancer Research UK and Tesco have partnered to encourage people to seek help for potential cancer symptoms and support early diagnosis
Tesco pharmacists trained by Cancer Research UK available in-store to provide information and support to customers experiencing potential symptoms or concerned about cancer
Worrying Cancer Research UK figures show that around a third of people (32 percent)* who noticed a potential ‘red flag’ cancer symptom did not contact their GP within six months.
The findings are from a Cancer-Research UK-funded YouGov survey of 6,844 people across the UK that looked at the public’s attitudes, awareness and behaviours across key early diagnosis, screening and prevention topics. Red flag symptoms include:
A change in the appearance of a mole
An unexplained lump or swelling
Unexplained bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause
A sore that does not heal
Blood in pee or poo
Persistent difficulty swallowing
Losing weight without trying to
Coughing up blood
Difficulty getting a GP appointment, choosing to manage symptoms alone, or simply having too many other things to worry about are some of the reasons people put off discussing a health concern with a healthcare professional.**
A red flag symptom could be caused by conditions other than cancer and a visit to a GP will allow for an urgent suspected cancer referral, so symptoms can be investigated by a specialist if required. More than 90 percent of urgent referrals will not be diagnosed with cancer but if it is, diagnosing at an early stage means treatment is more likely to be successful.
For those who continued to experience red flag symptoms after seeing their GP, a worrying 43 percent did not follow up with their doctor.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said:“Nearly one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime, that’s why it’s so important to spot cancer early – when treatment is more likely to be successful.
“Support is there for people who notice something that’s not right for them and we’ve partnered with Tesco to support early diagnosis of cancer. Through our partnership, it’s easier for people to talk to a professional about any concerns, which we hope will save lives.”
Data from Cancer Research UK highlights why spotting cancer early is so important. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK*** – but around 9 in 10 people in England will survive the disease for five years or more if they are diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to around 1 in 10 at the latest stage.****
The findings come as Cancer Research UK continues its partnership with Tesco to help address barriers and support people to seek help for potential cancer symptoms through Tesco Pharmacies.
The partnership aims to prompt those who are experiencing symptoms or are concerned about cancer to get information and support while they shop in over 350 large Tesco stores across the country.
Tom Lye, Tesco Health & Wellness Category Director, said:“Tesco pharmacists are often a convenient and trusted first point of contact for our customers and colleagues who have health concerns.
“Through our partnership with Cancer Research UK, we’re making it easier them to have health conversations in a private setting without needing to book an appointment.
“Our pharmacists are on hand in over 350 large Tesco stores to offer support, and help people take the next step if something doesn’t feel right.”
Tesco pharmacists have received specialist training from Cancer Research UK to provide support on possible signs and symptoms of cancer. If someone notices something that is unusual for them, they can have an initial conversation with a Tesco pharmacist in a convenient, private setting, and receive guidance on taking the next steps and booking a GP appointment if needed.
There are many barriers in day-to-day life preventing people from getting health concerns checked out. These confidential conversations can take place at a time that fits around customers’ schedules – including at evenings and weekends – without the need for an appointment, and they can even be combined with their weekly shop.
Tesco pharmacists are available all year round, with Cancer Research UK and Tesco running a health campaign from Monday 22 June – Sunday 5 July 2026 to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of cancer, and support customers to seek help if they’ve noticed something unusual for them.
Carlton Hayman’s story
Carlton Hayman, 67, from Coventry, is a Grocery Assistant at Tesco. When he started having difficulty swallowing food in 2024, he spoke to Tesco Pharmacy Manager, Nik Thakrar, 40.
Nik’s training from Cancer Research UK had reinforced to him that this was a red flag cancer symptom, so he encouraged Carlton to speak to his GP. Carlton was subsequently diagnosed with oesophageal cancer at a treatable stage.
“It just felt like the food wasn’t going down properly,” Carlton said: “Because there was no pain or other symptoms, I didn’t think it was anything serious at the time.
“But after finishing a shift one day, I decided to pop over and speak to Nik. He was very thorough – he took the time to ask me a range of questions.
“After that, he told me that something didn’t seem right and that I should get it checked urgently. I went to see my GP that same week and was referred for an endoscopy shortly after. It was during that test that I was diagnosed with cancer.
“Nik encouraging me to get my symptoms checked straight away really made a difference – it gave me the push I needed to take that first step.
“Nik and his team had been doing my prescriptions for years, so I trusted him. I’m really glad I went to speak to him that day – it made all the difference.”
Nik said: “When Carlton came to speak with me, my priority was to listen carefully and take his concerns seriously.
“I had recently completed training on recognising red flag cancer symptoms, which gave me confidence in what to look out for. With that at the front of my mind, I advised him to go and see his GP as soon as possible.
“Carlton’s case highlights how important it is for people to trust their instincts and seek advice from a health professional if something doesn’t feel right. Community pharmacies are there to support, and no concern is too small to talk about.
“Early conversations can make a real difference, and pharmacists are well placed to support those first steps.”
Health Secretary Angela Constance has welcomed official figures that show sustained progress in reducing waiting times.
Public Health Scotland statistics published today demonstrate the waiting list for new outpatients is down 12.9% compared to last year, with the number of outpatient waits of more than a year dropping for 12 months in a row.
More people are being treated for cancer on time, within both 62 and 31 day standards, compared to pre-pandemic and to 10 years ago. The median wait for treatment after a decision to treat is just two days – the joint lowest on record.
Ms Constance said significant pressures remain at the hospital front door, with A&E performance requiring improvement and the NHS facing increases in attendances and activity across a number of services.
She highlighted the need to continue to focus on shifting the balance of care into communities, using initiatives like GP walk-in services and Hospital at Home to ensure patients get the right care, in the right place at the right time.
During a visit to Western General Hospital in Edinburgh to learn more about cancer monitoring, Ms Constance said: “These latest official figures illustrate that our exceptional NHS workforce is treating more people across Scotland and dealing with significant pressures in doing so.
“Hospital activity is up and as a result we are seeing long waits for operations coming down. Thanks to our hard-working staff and targeted Scottish Government investment, we are building more capacity. This is surpassing our target to provide 150,000 additional appointments last year and an additional 30,000 procedures in our network of National Treatment Centres.
“We know, however, that delivering better care cannot be achieved simply by increasing activity. Real long-term progress will mean improving access to care on our doorstep and in communities. It requires change in how we deliver social care and address delayed discharges from hospitals.
“In our first 100 days of government we will introduce a new national plan for the flow of patients through hospital. We are investing in more community care, including opening more GP walk-in centres across the country and introducing heart and lung MOTs. Prevention is better than cure and catching problems early saves lives.”
In total, 7,225 cancer patients were treated in the first quarter of 2026 on the 31-day standard, 13.1% higher than the quarter ending 31 December 2019.
Supporting 45,000 patients to access same-day treatment
Thousands of patients in Glasgow will have easier access to urgent same day care as Scotland’s latest GP walk-in service opened its doors.
First Minister John Swinney visited the centre in Cardonald as it opened to patients today. The service will enable residents in Cardonald and the surrounding area to receive treatment without an appointment, Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 20:00.
Depending on clinical need, patients may be seen by a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The service will also be made available to those without fixed addresses or who are homeless to ensure no one misses out on access to care.
It is the ninth centre to open as part of the Scottish Government’s pilot GP walk-in programme, which has been designed to provide more choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services.
The First Minister said: “I promised that my government would end the frustrating ‘8am rush’ for GP appointments – and we are delivering on that commitment.
“Patients across the country are already benefitting from this pilot, which enables access to urgent, same-day care at new GP-led walk-in services – with Glasgow the latest service to open its doors.
“Walk-in services will help us bridge between General Practice and Urgent care – offering patients with urgent health concerns another way to be seen and treated, on the day and closer to home. Existing GP services will continue to provide their patients with all general medical services.
“We are on track to open another at least another two additional walk-in centres and set out the next phase of expansion, within the first 100 days of this government. This year we will expand access to a further 14 locations, taking the total to 30 walk-in clinics across the country. That is a Scottish Government delivering for the people of Scotland.”
Jann Gardner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) Chief Executive, said: “The opening of the GP Walk-In Clinic in Cardonald marks an important step in improving access to care for local residents.
“NHSGGC is at the forefront of this new approach and we are committed to learning from the Walk-In Clinic as we continue to modernise healthcare.
“This forms part of a wider programme of work to improve how patients access services, including initiatives such as FNC+ and e-triage. We will continue to develop services that are responsive to the needs of our communities.”
The latest Public Health Scotland figures on waiting times for musculoskeletal (MSK) services should be a cause for concern.
Between August 2025 and March 2026, only 52.4 per cent of patients were seen within the Scottish Government’s four-week waiting time target. Meanwhile, the number of people waiting for care increased to 75,128 by the end of March 2026.
Behind these figures are people living with arthritis and other MSK conditions who are experiencing pain, reduced mobility and uncertainty while waiting for support. MSK conditions affect around 1.7 million people in Scotland and are the leading cause of pain and disability. Timely access to services such as physiotherapy is often critical to helping people manage their condition and maintain their quality of life.
Arthritis UK is calling for a national MSK Action Plan to improve access to diagnosis, treatment and support. We are also urging the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Care and Sport Committee to undertake a dedicated inquiry into musculoskeletal health, an area that has never been the subject of a parliamentary inquiry despite its significant impact on individuals and the health service.
These latest figures highlight the need for urgent action to improve outcomes for people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions across Scotland. People living with this cannot afford to wait any longer.
Alan McGinley
Policy and Engagement Manager (Scotland) Arthritis UK
51 people died from excessive natural heat in the UK between 2014 and 2023
252 children required hospital treatment for sunburn injuries in 2025, a 46.5% rise since 2024
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) issue important advice about staying safe in the sun
With a red weather warning issued for many parts of England, and a red heat health alert in some regions warning of a threat to life for even healthy people, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) are warning of the growing dangers of heatwaves.
Research showed 51 people died from excessive natural heat in the UK between 2014 and 2023, alongside more than 1,800 hospital admissions in England over the past decade. This includes 16 fatalities during 2022, the last year a red warning was in place.
The organisations said the risks are rising as the UK experiences more frequent and intense periods of hot weather, with children particularly vulnerable.
Data shared by Children’s Burns Trust shows severe child sunburn injuries increased sharply in 2025, when 252 sunburn cases in children were recorded (admission to a Specialist Burns Unit), a 46.5% rise from 172 cases in 2024.
Heatwaves place strain on the body and can quickly lead to serious harm, including heat exhaustion, dehydration and burns from prolonged sun exposure. Children are especially at risk because their skin burns more easily and they may not recognise early warning signs.
Meteorologists warn that extreme heat is becoming more common in the UK, increasing the likelihood of preventable injuries and deaths if basic safety advice is not followed. Both organisations say many incidents could be avoided through simple precautions, particularly during peak sunlight hours.
The two leading charities are urging families to act early during hot weather by protecting children from the sun, keeping them cool and well hydrated, and recognising the signs of heat‑related illness.
Steve Cole, Director of Policy and Impact at RoSPA, said: “Heatwaves are no longer rare events, and the consequences are becoming clearer year on year.
“These deaths and hospital admissions are not inevitable. By following straightforward advice on sun safety, hydration and cooling down, people can dramatically reduce the risk to themselves and their families.”
Ken Dunn BSc FRCS(Lond) FRCS(plast) FRCS(ed), Consultant Burns and Plastic Surgeon (retired) and Vice Chair at Children’s Burns Trust, said: “We are seeing a worrying rise in children experiencing sunburn, which is painful, distressing and entirely preventable.
“Simple steps like keeping children out of direct sun, covering up exposed skin and reapplying sunscreen regularly can make a real difference.”
The organisations are advising the public to take extra care during hot weather, particularly between late morning and mid‑afternoon when the sun is strongest.
FIRST AID
Children’s Burns Trust helps to promote the vital message of the importance of good first aid if a burn or scald does occur:
COOL for 20 minutes under cool running water,
CALL 999 OR 111 or your GP for advice,
COVER the burn loosely with cling film.
All statistics released by Children’s Burns Trust have been provided by the International Burn Injury Database (iBID), incorporating data collected from all NHS Burn Services in England and Wales, they do not include the minor burns and scalds that are treated by Accident and Emergency Departments.
